Survey answer #3: Dancing, playing music and singing followed by reading, cuddling, talking, making up silly stories, making up silly songs and sharing happy thoughts. I must say, I totally want to go to bed at these two houses: Brian Vander Ark’s from The Verve Pipe and Kristen Geller from the Andy Z and the Andyland Band. I might show up one night. Really.

Some folks suggested specific songs, shows or stories to play real quiet, maybe in a loop, as they fall to sleep.

Ian Bevis from Bear Mountain recommended Stairway to Heaven, which does have a dreamy vibe, but I don’t know what I would say if they asked me what it means. Does anyone know what it means?

Andy Zamenes fr0m Andy Z and the Andyland Band recommends Andy Z and the Andyland Band musical stories. Which is totally fair, since kids are his specialty.

Greg Attonito and Shanti Wintergate from Play Date both recommended the Play Date song written for bedtime, “AYO.” I recommend it to. I might even sing it to myself tonight as I try to sleep.

Gordy Quist from The Band of Heathens has also written his own lullaby. He wrote this as a gift to parents everywhere looking for restful sleep. God Bless him. It’s a free download here. It’s beautiful.

Elizabeth McQueen playing with Asleep at the Wheel on the Lady Bird stage

Like I said yesterday when we talked about lullabies, I have answers to real questions from ACL 2013 musicians. Today’s topic is Question #2 – “If you met a teenage musician and she asked, “What is more important, to be inspired or to practice?”, what would you tell her?”

Everyone said “both” in one form or another.

Maybe inspiration and practice are like the chicken and the egg, you have to have both and one leads to the other. But which comes first? Please, ACL musicians, give us a clear and definitive answer…

Out of 17 musicians…

8 said practice

6 said inspiration

4 said both equally

Yes, very clear. Thanks, y’all!

Tobias Winkerton from Junip had an interesting response. He recommended practicing on being inspired. I think I know what he means from my writing.

I need to pay attention to how inspiration works for me, so I can nurture it and give it room and light. I don’t get inspired when I’m too busy or trying to work to fast. I get inspired when I look at something from the side at an angle instead of head on. When inspiration first starts, it feels like a headache. Like there are no words in the English language for what I want to say. Like I want to turn off the computer and go to sleep, I think because I’m tired but really because I’m afraid I won’t be able to do it. I’ve had to practice being aware of that feeling and working through it until I get to that place were it all feels good.

Well, Tobias, maybe that isn’t what you meant, I was just imagining.

Stay tuned for more answers to your parenting questions. Next, find out what you should do if your kids like really crappy music. And they want to listen to it in the house. And on road trips. Ahhhh!

the inspiration folks:
Shanti Wintergate from Play Date , Greg Attonito from Play Date, Kevin Russell from Shiny Ribs, Arlene Bell from Disciples for Christ, Kevin Marks from JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, Rick Carney, Music Director for School of Rock